The study functionally characterizes a conserved structured RNA motif (45ABC) in Arabidopsis RBP45 pre‑mRNAs, showing that its sequence and pairing elements mediate a negative auto‑ and cross‑regulatory feedback loop through alternative splicing that produces unproductive isoforms and reduces RBP45 expression. Transcriptome‑wide splicing analysis and phenotypic assessment of rbp45 mutants reveal that RBP45B plays a dominant role and that proper regulation of this motif is essential for root growth and flowering time.
The complete chloroplast genome of the endemic fruit species Dillenia philippinensis was sequenced, assembled, and annotated, revealing a 161,591‑bp quadripartite structure with 113 unique genes. Comparative analyses identified simple sequence repeats, codon usage patterns, and phylogenetic placement close to D. suffroticosa, providing a genomic resource for future breeding and conservation efforts.
The authors compiled and standardized published data on Rubisco dark inhibition for 157 flowering plant species, categorizing them into four inhibition levels and analyzing phylogenetic trends. Their meta‑analysis reveals a complex, uneven distribution of inhibition across taxa, suggesting underlying chloroplast microenvironment drivers and providing a new resource for future photosynthesis improvement efforts.
Integrating physiological, transcriptomic, and cellular analyses, the study shows that olive fruit abscission zones undergo lignification, alkalization, and extensive cell‑wall remodeling during natural maturation and after ethephon treatment. A set of 733 FAZ‑specific genes, including β‑1,3‑glucanases, pectate lyases, and pH‑regulating transporters, were identified, and increased glucanase activity together with reduced plasmodesmata callose suggest enhanced intercellular communication facilitates organ detachment in this non‑climacteric fruit.
A large-scale proteomic study in Arabidopsis thaliana identified over 32,000 isoform-specific peptides, confirming that alternative splicing, particularly intron retention, produces translated protein isoforms. Integrated proteogenomic analysis, SUPPA classification, and AlphaFold modeling revealed structural impacts and a non-linear regulation of transcript and protein abundance, with mutant phenotypes linking splicing to growth, chlorophyll content, and anthocyanin accumulation.
The study demonstrates that limonene, a natural essential‑oil component, strongly inhibits Fusarium oxysporum, the causal agent of potato dry rot, by impairing colony growth, hyphal morphology, spore viability, membrane integrity, and transcription/translation processes, as well as disrupting ion homeostasis. Combined treatments reveal additive effects with mancozeb and synergistic effects with hymexazol, highlighting limonene's potential as an eco‑friendly bio‑fungicide for potato disease management.
Six new Viola species and two reinstated species from China were identified using field surveys, detailed morphological comparison, and phylogenetic analysis of ITS and GPI gene sequences, placing them in section Plagiostigma subsect. Diffusae. The GPI data offered higher resolution, indicating complex relationships possibly due to ancient hybridization or incomplete lineage sorting, thereby clarifying species boundaries and evolutionary patterns in Chinese Viola.
The study provides a comprehensive genome-wide catalog and single‑cell expression atlas of the carbonic anhydrase (CA) gene family in maize, identifying 18 CA genes across α, β, and γ subfamilies and detailing their structural and regulatory features. Phylogenetic, synteny, promoter motif, bulk tissue RNA‑seq, and single‑cell RNA‑seq analyses reveal distinct tissue and cell‑type specific expression patterns, highlighting β‑CAs as key players in C4 photosynthesis and γ‑CAs in ion/pH buffering, and propose cell‑type‑specific CA genes as targets for improving stress resilience.
The study presents a plant‑focused phylogenetic analysis of class B flavin‑dependent monooxygenases, identifying eight distinct families and revealing lineage‑specific diversification, especially in the NADPH‑binding domain. Using known FMOs as baits, they assembled flavin‑related proteins from key Viridiplantae lineages, performed domain architecture and motif analyses, and reclassified several families, providing a framework for future functional studies.
Evolutionary origin and functional mechanism of Lhcx in the diatom photoprotection
Authors: Kumazawa, M., Akimoto, S., Takabayashi, A., Imaizumi, K., Tsuji, S., Hasegawa, H., Sakurai, A., Imamura, S., Ishikawa, N., Inoue-Kashino, N., Kashino, Y., Ifuku, K.
Molecular phylogenetic analysis indicated that diatom Lhcx proteins share a common ancestor with green algal Lhcsrs, suggesting acquisition via horizontal gene transfer. Knockout of the Lhcx1 gene in the diatom Chaetoceros gracilis almost eliminated non‑photochemical quenching and revealed that Lhcx1 mediates quenching in detached antenna complexes, while also influencing PSII quantum yield and carbon fixation under high‑light conditions. These findings elucidate the evolutionary origin and mechanistic role of Lhcx‑mediated photoprotection in diatoms.